Physical signs and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in familial hypercholesterolemia: the HELLAS-FH Registry.

Aims: Three physical signs, namely tendon xanthomas, corneal arcus and xanthelasma, have been associated with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (heFH). The prevalence and clinical significance of these signs are not well established among contemporary heFH individuals. This study explored the frequency as well as the association of these physical signs with prevalent atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in heFH individuals.

Obesity and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in adults with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia: An analysis from HELLAS-FH registry.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and obesity are well-established risk factors of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Despite high prevalence, their joint association with ASCVD remains largely unknown.

Objective: To investigate the association of obesity with prevalent ASCVD in individuals with heterozygous FH (HeFH) enrolled in the Hellenic Familial Hypercholesterolemia Registry (HELLAS-FH).

LDL cholesterol target achievement in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia patients according to 2019 ESC/EAS lipid guidelines: Implications for newer lipid-lowering treatments.

Background: The 2019 European guidelines (ESC/EAS) for the treatment of dyslipidaemias recommend more aggressive targets for low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Current lipid-lowering treatment is often inadequate to achieve these targets.

Methods: Data from the HELLAS-FH registry were analysed to assess achievement of LDL-C targets in adults with FH based on the 2019 ESC/EAS guidelines.

Hyperhomocysteinemia as the only risk factor in a young man presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Hyperhomocysteinemia has been established as a risk factor for cardiovascular events. This case of a 23-year-old male, presenting with acute coronary thrombosis and unremarkable past medical history, highlights the importance of measuring homocysteine levels in young individuals with acute coronary syndromes, especially those without conventional risk factors. < Hyperhomocysteinemia could be rarely the only risk factor causing an acute coronary syndrome, especially in very young individuals; Optical coherence tomography could provide valuable information regarding the cause of occlusion in an unexpected clinical presentation; Gene testing for thrombophilia should be considered for very young individuals with acute coronary syndrome without conventional risk factors; Randomized controlled trials have failed to prove a clinical benefit in patients treated with folic acid.

Identification and characterization of a rare variant in apolipoprotein A-IV, p.(V336M), and evaluation of HDL functionality in a Greek cohort with extreme HDL cholesterol levels.

High-Density Lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels do not correlate well with Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) risk, while HDL functionality affects atherogenesis and is a better prognostic marker for CAD. Often, the extreme HDL-C levels have a multigenic origin. Here, we searched for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ten genes of HDL metabolism in a Greek cohort with very low (<10th percentile, n = 13) or very high (>90th percentile, n = 21) HDL-C.

Achieving low-density lipoprotein cholesterol targets as assessed by different methods in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia: an analysis from the HELLAS-FH registry.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. FH patients often have increased lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] levels, which further increase CVD risk. Novel methods for accurately calculating LDL-C have been proposed.

PCSK9 inhibitors in clinical practice: Novel directions and new experiences.

Background: In randomized clinical trials, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 inhibitors (PCSK9i) effectively reduce low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) with a favorable tolerability and safety profile. Our purpose is to provide real-world data regarding the indications, efficacy and safety of PCSK9i.

Methods: The cohort comprised 141 patients who attended the lipid clinic of 3 hospitals in Greece and started using PCSK9i.

Homocysteine is an independent predictor of long-term cardiac mortality in patients with stable coronary artery disease in the era of statins.

Background: Homocysteine (Hcy) is considered a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.

Objective: To explore the long-term prognostic value of Hcy in patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) in the era of statins.

Methods: A total of 876 consecutive patients with stable CAD were recruited and followed up for a median of 6.

Prevalence of heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia and combined hyperlipidemia phenotype in very young survivors of myocardial infarction and their association with the severity of atheromatous burden.

Background: Heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) and combined hyperlipidemia (CHL) phenotype are associated with premature myocardial infarction (MI).

Objective: To assess the prevalence of HeFH and CHL phenotype among young survivors of MI and compare patients' characteristics with these 2 lipid disorders.

Methods: We recruited 382 young survivors of MI (≤40 years).

Extreme-risk category: High prevalence among stable coronary patients and an emerging widening treatment gap in achieving LDL-cholesterol less than 55 mg/dL.

Background And Aims: The latest guidelines from the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and the American College of Endocrinology (ACE) proposed a new "extreme-risk" category of patients, for whom a low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level <55 mg/dL (1.4 mmol/L) is advised. We aimed to identify the proportion of patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD), who are at extreme cardiovascular (CV) risk, and explore how achievable is the new LDL-C goal.